Winter Fruit and Vegetable- What is in Season?

Now it is Winter, we really should be mixing up what we buy when it comes to fruit and vegetables. Buy in season and buy local, have you heard this before? The way fruit and vegetables grow is in seasons, this is the way we should strive to eat as well. The food that you eat in Winter should be very different to what we eat in Summer. When we eat fruit that’s not in season there is a good chance it has come from far away or it has been frozen and stored for a really long time. The longer you take to eat the fruit from the time they are picked, they decrease in nutrient levels, so if they are older fruit and vegetables they will not be as good as those that are from local farmers. So now you see where if you get access to local farmers markets on the weekends you will be getting not only the best quality, that is local, but that is the most fresh. I also really like to support local farmers and local businesses. I see what is fresh and in season and plan my meals around it. And you know what I think they taste better too, you can taste the freshness and nutrients.

So now that in the Southern Hemisphere it is Winter, here is the list of what is now in season, you will also note that prices for these should decrease now that they are more readily available. In Winter think soups and stews, with loads of veggies.

FRUITS

Apples

Avocado

Banana

Dates

Grapefruit

Kiwi Fruit

Lemon

Mandarin

Nashi Pears

Oranges

Blood oranges

Passionfruit

Quince

Rhubard

Strawberries

Vegetables

Beetroot

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Carrots

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Celery

Fennel

Artichoke

Kale

Leek

Onion

Parsnip

Potatoes

Pumpkin

Silverbeet

Spinach

Sweet potato

Turnips

I am aiming to provide this list each season. I really think having an awareness of season fruit and vegetables is really important.